General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Not my first choice, but I voted for her. [View all]karynnj
(59,474 posts)With many bumps caused by him or his baggage. His charisma and the fact that the media was very much on his side helped him in the primaries.
I still believe any Democrat would have won 1992. I do believe the polls reflected something real. The economy had turned bad and he was blamed. He was very well regarded in early 1991 at the end of the first Gulf War, but Perot and the economy changed that by late 1991.
I agree that the popularity of GHWB did keep some stronger candidates out including Cuomo. However, even before the end of 1991, Bush was in trouble. However, at one point in the general election, Clinton polled THIRD to them. Then Perot imploded speaking of GHWB threatening to disrupt his daughter's wedding and pulled out very near the Democratic convention. Soon Clinton was ahead and stayed ahead until the election.
I think the the broadcast media treated Kerry worse than any major party nominee. It still annoys me that the broadcast media did not blast Republican delegates wearing purple heart band aids, almost condoning those disgusting, undeserved attacks. However, what is worse is they gave him less coverage than normal. Unlike any nominee in modern times, no network did a puff piece bio to play before the convention, although his bio would have made it easy. PBS did a Kerry/Bush bio and some of the cable stations did coverage focused on the only controversy in his bio, his courageous protests. Then almost no coverage, outside the convention and debates, was given other than short snippets where he spoke against Bush. ( Not to mention contrast the nasty coverage of the wonderful, accomplished Teresa vs Melania)
As to Edwards reaching people Kerry didn't, that was the media speaking. KERRY trounced Edwards in the primary and was by far more inspiring when people actually heard him. Kerry was the real deal, while Edwards was a shallow charleton.
I did not say Clinton did not like Kerry. I have no way of knowing what he thought or thinks. I do know Clinton was not happy when he endorsed Obama. What I did say was Kerry was part of the liberal Kennedy wing of the party and some people allied with Clinton did not want the party to go that direction. An ok sentiment in the primaries, but many did not rally around Kerry as nominee.
One thing I thought of as Carville spoke of ABB was that though I supported Tsongus or Brown, I never said I was ABB in 1992. This in spite of Clinton having a bad record on the environment in Arkansas and the fact we already knew his lack of honesty and character from his responses to the draft issue and the Flowers issue. The fact is almost everyone here is already ABT (or ABPence), which is why ABX was always used in the context of a primary.